QUICK QUESTION, lower ball joints in AU, DIY?

[LukeyST]

G'day,

Quick one, has anyone here done the lower ball joints in their AU themselves? How much is their to it? Does the lower A-arm have to come out?

Had a dry squeak coming from the front left for a few weeks, thought it was the shock but took it to mechanic yesterday who by ear guessed ball joints. Suggested i jack it up and lifted under the wheel too check play in the ball joint. This evening i did just that and its definitely the lower ball joint, had about 3-4mm vertical play

The mechanic said you need a special tool to get them out, and would be about 150 in parts (not sure if that was both sides) plus an hours labour per side.

I will go back and talk to them again in the morning, but im not sure when they could do it, I assume its pretty dangerous as is and want it fixed asap. To get it done sooner and save on labour i'd prefer to do it myself, but not sure if its possible (might be able to rig up my own 'special tool'). I have access to a press and all the usual tools, in terms of personal ability ive done a fair bit of mechanical work myself including the notorious rear hubs in the IRS AU's.

Thoughts?

Cheers,
Luke

[Mr Hardware]

You need a press

[LukeyST]

Christ that was a quick reply lol.

Not a problem, my old man has a 10ton workshop press in the shed.

Sounds like you have done them before?

Cheers.

[Reaper8]

two options 1.remove both control arms and use a big press or 2. get hold of a hand press and do it with them on. 2 is Lots easier there are a few threads on here about how people have made them with bits of pipe and some threaded rod welded to them. I just did 1 as i replaced the bushes while i had them out (not a fun job) good luck

[LukeyST]

Thanks mate I might give it a go then. Even if it is more work it sounds 'easier' to take the lot out and push it with a proper press.

Cheers.

[Reaper8]

If your goin to take them out have a look at your bushes they tend to split inside

[AMB]

here you go Luke, how to make one, there's a few links in this thread:
http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthr...ll+joint+press

[LukeyST]

What a big job that was, a lot more work in taking the A arm out than what i had anticipated.

Took off the wheel, brake caliper and rotor no worries. Undid the nut on top of the ball joint and lifted the upright up off the A arm no worries. Disconnected the sway bar linkage and lower shock mount, again, no worries.

Then came the two A arm to chassis bolts, undid the front one first and it came out without a problem, but the bolt that goes through the alloy cross-member couldn't be taken right out because of the steering rack loosened the steering rack and turned the wheel hard-left and managed to get the bolt out. Both bolts now out I went to pull the A arm out but couldnt because of a stud that hangs down just outside the front shackle/mount This stud was one of four (2 each side) that holds another cross member which the forward-most A arm mounts are located in. After loosening and lowering this cross member i managed to get the arm right out

Pressing the old ball-joint out was the easiest part of the process by far, ended up using and old rear hub as a rest (AU irs hub, the recess the big nut locates in had the perfect inside diameter). Took the new ball-joint out of the freezer and pressed it in without trouble. Got the A-arm back in the car and everything else went back together in about 20 minutes.

Lesson learnt: press the ball joint out with the A-arm still on the car. To do the other side I have already worked out how i can make a press using the fore-mentioned rear hub.

Despite all the 'trouble' I had im still glad i did it myself. Only cost me $60 (for two ball-joints) and a few hours of my weekend (so far, have only done the 'bad' side).

Originally Posted by Reaper8

If your goin to take them out have a look at your bushes they tend to split inside

The A-arm bushes seemed ok. I noticed the sway-bar to chassis mounting bushes were a bit sloppy but they are an easy job that can be done when i get around to getting new ones.

Originally Posted by AMB

here you go Luke, how to make one, there's a few links in this thread:
http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthr...ll+joint+press

Thanks for that link. Using those old rear hubs i mentioned above I will make a press to do the other side.

Sorry for the long post

Cheers,
Luke

[LukeyST]

Got the other side (RHS) done this morning, as well as getting in some new sway bar bushes. Way easier doing this side using the press i rigged up.

2 old hubs and a couple of bolts, nuts and washers. Bob's ya uncle



Pic taken just after the old one popped out. Putting the new one in required another bit of tube and some spacers i had to make up.

Thanks again to those who posted and helped out.

Cheers.

[Reaper8]

good to hear you got them done, i did mine when i upgraded to S2 brakes so had all the ball joints and bushes in the arms. took me 6 hours from start to finish.makes a big difference my ball joints were shagged (putting it nicely). It's nice to drive a car now that don't bang and clunk at every bump in the road.

[LukeyST]

All things considered 6 hours aint too bad for ball joints and bushes, with whats involved, you did alright.

And new ball joints do make a difference ay, after changing the bad one yesterday i went for a quick spin and noticed the front end was a lot nicer. I went for a longer spin this afternoon after doing the other side and the sway bar bushes, man it turns in a lot nicer now! My cars fun to drive again

[ronwest]

Yeah it's amazing what a difference new ball jts make. Mine was all over the road, creaking, rattling. Generally a pita.

New ball jts + wheel alignment = totally different driving pleasure